Warning-lamp pulsator

ABSTRACT

A warning-lamp flashing system in which a fluidic oscillator is used to open and close a switch in the warning-lamp circuit. The fluidic oscillator uses a bistable amplifier, a capacitor of predetermined volume, a servomotor having a volume of 10-15 percent of the capacitor volume and two fluid resistors to provide a timing device which causes the lamps to flash from a high intensity to a low intensity at a predetermined rate of approximately 5-7 c.p.s. whenever the warning system is activated by the operator.

United States Patent [72] lnventors Edgar C. Paflrath;

Harold J. Burke, both of Saginaw, Mich. [21] Appl. No. 875,263 [22] Filed Nov. 10, 1969 [45] Patented Jan. 4, 1972 [73] Assignee General MotorsCorporatiou Detroit, Mich. Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 836,890, June 26, 1969, now abandoned. This application Nov. 10, 1969, Ser. No. 875,263

[54] WARNING-LAMP PULSATOR 7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 340/72, 137/815, 340/331 [51] Int. Cl B60q1/44, 1105b 39/09, F15c 1/08 [50] Field of Search 137/815; 235/199, 200; 340/72, 331

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,992,775 2/1935 Santora 340/72 UX 2,023,486 12/1935 McComb.. 340/72 UX 2,296,667 9/1942 Hemphill 340/72 3,155,825 11/1964 Boothe 137/815 UX 3,283,768 ll/1966 Manion. 137/815 3,300,756 1/ 1967 Miller 340/72 3,329,868 7/1967 Domann et al. 340/81 UX 3,350,684 10/1967 Turner 340/67 3,421,173 1/1969 Jones 137/815 X 3,425,430 2/1969 1-1orton..... 137/815 3,444,879 5/1969 McLeod 137/815 3,490,408 1/1970 Monge et al. 137/8l.5

3,504,691 4/1970 Campagnuolo et al 137/815 FOREIGN PATENTS 418,490 10/1934 Great Britain 340/72 OTHER REFERENCES Fluid Transistor Circuits May Rival Electronics, Pursglove, Science and Mechanics, Chicago, Ill. copy in Scientific Library, Tl-S4, June 1960, pp. 81- 84 Fluid Amplifiers Go Commercial, Yeaple, Product Engineering, McGraw-Hill, New York, N.Y., Dec. 6, 1965, pp. 65- 70, Scientific Library, TJ-1-P93 Fluerics (Fluid Amplification) 9, Fluid Digital Logic Elements and Circuits, Iseman, 16 Aug. 1965, Harry Diamond Labs. p. 32 Scientific Library TP156 F65-45f.

Review of Some Fluid Oscillators, Compagnuolo et al., Apr. 1969, Harry Diamond Labs. p. 21, Scientific Lib. TP156-F65V5r.

Fluidics," Dr. J. N; Shinn, General Elect. Co. 1967, pp. 5 and 6,

General Electric Fluidic Products, General Electric Co.

Sheet GET3495, 5-1968.

Primary Examiner-John W. Caldwell Assistant Examiner-Kenneth N. Leimer AttorneysW. E. Finken, A. M. Heiter and D. F. Scherer ABSTRACT: A waming-lamp flashing system in which a fluidic oscillator is used to open and close a switch in the warning-lamp circuit. The fluidic oscillator uses a bistable amplifier, a capacitor of predetermined volume, a servomotor having a volume of 10-15 percent of the capacitor volume and two fluid resistors to provide a timing device which causes the lamps to flash from a high intensity to a low intensity at a predetennined rate of approximately 5-7 c.p.s. whenever the warning system is activated by the operator.

WARNING-LAMP PULSATOR This is a continuation-in-part of US. Ser. No. 836,890 filed June 26, 1969, now abandoned.

This invention relates to flashing-light warning systems and more particularly to flashing-light warning systems which have a pulsating-light system to and low intensity warning system at a predetermined rate.

It is an object of this invention to provide a flashing waming-lamp system in which a fluidic oscillator having a provide a high and bistable amplifier, a capacitor, a servomotor and a pair of resistors of predetermined values to open'and close a switch in parallel with a resistor in an electrical system at a predetermined rate of approximately 5-7 c.p.s. to provide high intensity when the switch is closed and low intensity when the switch is open thereby establishing a high-low pulse rate.

This and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a fluidic system and an electrical brake light system;

FIG. 2 is a modification of the system shown in FIG. 1 in which the brake light has two filaments.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a fluidic oscillator generally designated which is in fluid communication through a passage 12 and a flow valve 14 with an air pressure source 16. The fluidic oscillator 10 includes a bistable fluid amplifier 18 having a power input port 20, a pair of power output ports 22 and 24 in fluid communication with input port 20, and a pair of input control ports 26 and 28. The power input port is connected with the passage 12 while the power output port 22 is connected via a passage 30, a restrictor 32, and a passage 34 with the control input port 26 and the power output port 24 is connected via a passage 36, a capacitor 38 having a volume of approximately 5 cubic inches, a passage 40, a restrictor 42 and a passage 44 to the control input port 28. The restrictor 32 has a restrictive value of approximately 75 percent of the value of the restrictor42. The fluidic oscillator 10 also includes a fluid servomotor generally designated 46 which has a housing 48 separated into two'fluid chambers by a diaphragm 50. One of the chambers 52 is in fluid communication with the passage 30 while the other chamber 54 is open to the atmosphere through a port 56. The chamber 54 also contains a compression spring 58 which is located between the housing 48 and the diaphragm 50 to move the diaphragm 50 to the left. The chamber 52 has a volume of approximately 10-15 percent of the volume of the capacitor 38. The diaphragm 50 is connected through a link 60 to an electrical switch 62, such that when the spring 58 urges the diaphragm to the left, the switch 62 will be closed and when fluid pressure in passage 30 moves the diaphragm 50 to the right, the switch 62 will be opened.

The electrical system, of which switch 62 is component, also includes a power source such as a battery 64, a conventional brake light switch 66 in series connection between the battery 64 and the switch 62, a resistor 68 connected in parallel with the switch 62, a pair of brake lights 70 and 72 and a turn signal switch 74 connected in series between the switch 62, the resistor 68 and the brake lights 70 and 72. The brake light switch 66 is operatively connected via linkage 76 to a manually operated brake pedal 78 which is also connected via a linkage 80 to the airflow valve 14. When the brake pedal 78 is operated, the brake light switch 66 will be closed to permit electrical connection between the battery 64 and the brake light 70 and 72, and the flow valve 14 will be open to permit fluid communication between the air source 16 and the bistable amplifier 18.

When the air source 16 is open to the bistable fluidic amplifier l8, fluid communication will be established between the power input port 20 and one of the power output ports 22 or 24. It will be assumed for the present that fluid communica- 7 tion is between the power input port 20 and the output port 22. Thus the passage 30 will be pressurized to cause the diaphragm 50 to be moved to the right to open the switch 62. The electrical energy from the battery will then be conducted through the resistor 68 to the brake light 70 and 72. A voltage drop will occur at the resistor 68 so that lower voltage and, therefore, lower illumination will be present at the brake lights 70 and 72. When the passage 30 is pressurized,the fluidwill also flow through the restrictor 32 to the passage 34 and the control input port 26. The'resistor 32 reduces pressure, due to flow losses, between the passages 30 and 34 sothat-the control pressure is reduced from the output pressure. When fluid pressure is available at the control port 26, the power flowfrom the input port 20 will be switched from theoutput port 22 to the output port 24'thereby causing a'decrease in pressurein passage 30 and an increase in pressure in passage 36. When the pressure in passage 30 is decreased, thediaphragm S0,

under the action of compression spring 58, will move to the left thereby closing the switch 62. With the switch 62 closed, the brake light 70 and 72 will be electrically connected with the battery 64 bypassing the resistor-68 such that the voltage available at the brake light will be higher .and thus the illumination will be higher. When the passage 36'is pressurized, the fluid will flow through the capacitor 38 and the restrictor 42 to the control port 28. However, the capacitor 38 must be filled before the fluid flows through the restrictor 42 so that there will be a time delay between pressurization of passage 36 and the pressure at control port 28. This time delay is established by the size of the capacitor 38. The restrictor-42 causes a pressure decrease between output port 24and control port 28 since the control pressure does nothave to be as high as the output pressure. Thus the capacitor '38 will establish the amount of time which the switch. 62 will be closed thereby establishing the pulse rate of the brake lights 70 and 72. With the design valuesused for the capacitor 38, the chamber 52 and the restrictors 32 and 42, the fluid oscillator will pulsate at a rate of 5 to 7 c.p.s. The turn signal 74 is a conventional unit designed to establish a pulse rate; for example, 2 cycles per second (2 c.p.s.), which is different from the bistable fluidic amplifier pulse rate. As with conventional turn signal devices, the turn signal switch-74 is connected to the brake lights 70 and 72 from the battery to cause illumination to go from some intensity, as established by the resistor 68 and the switch 62, to no intensity to provide a tum-indicating signal.

The brake light flashing system shown in FIG. 2 is similar in construction and operation to the system shown in FIG. 1 and includes a fluidic oscillator 10' which is substantially identical in construction to the fluidic oscillator 10, a battery 64', a brake light switch 66', a brakelight and a conventional switch 92. The brake light 90 has a high-intensity filament 94 and a low-intensity filament 96. The switch is connected between the high-intensity filament 94 and ground. Thus when the brake light switch 66' is closed-and the fluidic oscillator 10' opens the switch 92, electrical .power will be conducted from the battery 64' through the low intensityfilament 96 to ground. As the fluidic oscillator operates, the switch 92 will be closed thus providing an electrical path from the battery 64' through both filaments 96 and 94 to ground -therebyincreasing the illumination. The illumination of this system will also have a pulse rate determined by the oscillating characteristic of the fluidic oscillator 10 such that a flashing between high and low intensity will occur when the brake lightswitch is closed by the operator. A conventional tum-indicating switch may be used with this system also.

What is claimed is:

1. In a flashing-light warning system, a fluidic source including flow valve means; a fluidic bistable amplifier having a power input port operatively connected to said flow valve means, a pair of power outputports in fluid communication with the power input ports, and a pair of control port for directing fluid from said power input port to said power output ports individually; passage means for connecting one output port to one of the control ports and the other output port to the other control port, and for directing a control signal from the output ports to the control ports; timing means in said passage means for delaying the control signal between one of said output ports and one of said control ports including a capacitor having a volume of 5 cubic inches, a first restrictor in series with said capacitor, and a second restrictor between said other output port and said other control port and having a restrictive value of 75 percent of said first restrictor and a servomotor in fluid communication with said other output port and having a chamber with a volume of l0l5 percent of said capacitor; electric circuit means including a power source, first switch means operatively connected with said servomotor, second switch means for connecting said power source with said first switch means, resistor means in parallel with said first switch means and connected with said second switch means for providing a current path when the first switch means is open, and light means operatively connected with said first switch means and said resistor means for providing illumination when said second switch means is closed; and actuating means for selectively closing said second switch means and opening said flow valve means simultaneously whereby said fluidic device will operate to open and close said first switch means at a rate determined by said timing means to provide one level of illumination when said first switch means is opened and another level of illumination when said first switch means is closed.

2. ln a flashing-light warning system, a fluidic source including flow valve means; a fluidic bistable amplifier having a power input port operatively connected to said flow valve means, a pair of power output ports in fluid communication with the power input port, and a pair of control ports for directing fluid from said power input port to said power output ports individually; passage means for connecting one output port to one of the control ports and the other output port to the other control port, and for directing a control signal from the output ports to the control ports; timing means in said passage means for delaying the control signal between one of said output ports and one of said control ports including a capacitor having a substantial fluid storage volume, a first restrictor in series with said capacitor and effective to discharge the fluid pressure within the capacitor for a predetermined delay time interval, and a second restrictor between said other output port and said other control port and having a restrictive valve of 75 percent of said first restrictor and a servomotor responsive to the pressure of the other of said output ports and having a chamber with a volume of -15 percent of said capacitor; electric circuit means including a power source, first switch means operatively connected with said servomotor, second switch means for connecting said power source with said first switch means, resistor means in parallel with said first switch means and connected with said second switch means for providing a current path when the first switch means is open, and light means operatively connected with said first switch means and said resistor means for providing illumination when said second switch means is closed; and actuating means for selectively closing said second switch means and opening said flow valve means simultaneously whereby said fluidic device will operate to open and close said first switch means at a rate determined by said timing means to provide one level of illumination when said first switch means is opened and another level of illumination when said first switch means is closed.

3. In a flashing-light warning system, fluidic source means for providing fluid flow and pressure; fluidic oscillator means including bistable amplifier means operatively connected to said fluidic source means, fluid motor means operatively connected with said amplifier means for receiving fluid therefrom to produce an output force, and timing means for producing a pulse rate in the fluid flow between said amplifier means and said fluid motor means; electric circuit means including a power source, illumination means including lamp means for providing illumination and lamp switch means operatively connected with said fluid motor means and being actuated in response to said output force, and brake switch means for connecting said power source with said illumination means; and actuating means for selectively closing said brake switch means to complete the electric circuit between said power source and said illumination means whereby said fluidic oscillator means will operate to actuate said lamp switch means at the pulse rate determined by said timing means and said illumination means will provide one level of illumination when said lamp switch means is opened and another level of illumination when said lamp switch means is closed.

4. In a flashing-light warning system, a fluidic source including flow valve means; fluidic oscillator means including bistable amplifier means operatively connected to said flow valve means, fluid motor means operatively connected with said amplifier means for receiving fluid therefrom to produce an output force, and timing means for producing a pulse rate in the fluid flow between said amplifier means and said fluid motor means; electric circuit means including a power source, first switch means operatively connected with said fluid motor means and being actuated in response to the output force, second switch means for connecting said power source with said first switch means, and light means having one filament operatively connected in series to both said switch means and another filament operatively connected in series with said second switch means only; and actuating means for selectively closing said second switch means and opening said flow valve means simultaneously whereby said fluidic oscillator means will operate to open and close said first switch means at a rate determined by said timing means to provide one level of illumination when said first switch means is opened and another level of illumination when said first switch means is closed.

5. In a flashing-light warning system, a fluidic source including flow valve means; a fluidic device having a power input port connected to said flow valve means, a pair of power output ports in fluid communication with the power input port, and a pair of control port means for directing fluid from said power input port to said power output ports individually; passage means for connecting one output port to one of the control ports and the other output port to the other control port, and for directing a control signal from the output ports to the control ports; timing means in said passage means for delaying the control signal between one of said output ports and one of said control ports; electric circuit means including a power source, illumination means including lamp switch means operatively connected with one of said output ports and lamp means, and brake switch means for connecting said power source with said illumination means; and actuating means for selectively closing said brake switch means and opening said flow valve means simultaneously whereby said fluidic device will operate to open and close said lamp switch means at a rate determined by said timing means and said illumination means will provide one level of illumination when said lamp switch means is opened and another level of illumination when said lamp switch means is closed.

6. In a flashing-light warning system, a fluidic source including flow valve means; fluidic oscillator means including bistable amplifier means operatively connected to said flow valve means, fluid motor means operatively connected with said amplifier means for receiving fluid therefrom to produce an output force, and timing means for producing a pulse rate in the fluid flow between said amplifier means and said fluid motor means; electric circuit means including a power source, first switch means operatively connected with said fluid motor means and being actuated in response to the output force, second switch means for connecting said power source with said first switch means, resistor means in parallel with said first switch means and connected with said second switch means for providing a current path when the first switch means is open, and light means operatively connected with said first switch means and said resistor means for providing illumination when said second switch means is closed; and actuating means for selectively closing said second switch means and opening said flow valve means simultaneously whereby said fluidic oscillator means will operate to actuate said first switch means at a rate determined by said timing means to provide one level of illumination when said first switch means is opened and another level of illumination when said first switch means is closed.

7. In a flashing-light warning system, a fluidic source including flow valve means; a fluidic device having a power input port operatively connected to said flow valve means, a pair of power output ports in fluid communication with the power input port, and a pair of control ports for directing fluid from said power input port to said power output ports individually; passage means for connecting one output port to one of the control ports and the other output port to the other control port, and for directing a control signal from the output ports to the control ports; timing means in said passage means for delaying the control signal between one of said output ports and one of said control ports; electric circuit means including a power source, first switch means operatively connected with one of said output ports, second switch means for connecting said power source with said first switch means, resistor means in parallel with said first switch means and connected with said second switch means for providing a current path when the first switch means is open, and light means operatively connected with said first switch means and said resistor means for providing illumination when said second switch means is closed; and actuating means for selectively closing said second switch means and opening said flow valve means simultaneously whereby said fluidic device will operate to open and close said first switch means at a rate determined by said timing means to provide one-level of illumination when said first switch means is opened and another level of illumination when said first switch means is closed.

mg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,633,160 Dated January 4, 1972- n l Edgar C. Paffrath and Harold J. Burke It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters, Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 6, after to insert provide a high I' 7 lines 9 and 10, after having a delete "provide 7 .1-

a high and" line 53, after is insert a I Column 2, line 69, "port" (second occurence) should be ports Column 3, line 29, "port" (first occurence) should be ports Signed and sealed this 25th day of July 1972.

' (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHAIK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. In a flashing-light warning system, a fluidic source including flow valve means; a fluidic bistable amplifier having a power input port operatively connected to said flow valve means, a pair of power output ports in fluid communication with the power input ports, and a pair of control ports for directing fluid from said power input port to said power output ports individually; passage means for connecting one output port to one of the control ports and the other output port to the other control port, and for directing a control signal from the output ports to the control ports; timing means in said passage means for delaying the control signal between one of said output ports and one of said control ports including a capacitor having a volume of 5 cubic inches, a first restrictor in series with said capacitor, and a second restrictor between said other output port and said other control port and having a restrictive value of 75 percent of said first restrictor and a servomotor in fluid communication with said other output port and having a chamber with a volume of 10- 15 percent of said capacitor; electric circuit means including a power source, first switch means operatively connected with said servomotor, second switch means for connecting said power source with said first switch means, resistor means in parallel with said firSt switch means and connected with said second switch means for providing a current path when the first switch means is open, and light means operatively connected with said first switch means and said resistor means for providing illumination when said second switch means is closed; and actuating means for selectively closing said second switch means and opening said flow valve means simultaneously whereby said fluidic device will operate to open and close said first switch means at a rate determined by said timing means to provide one level of illumination when said first switch means is opened and another level of illumination when said first switch means is closed.
 2. In a flashing-light warning system, a fluidic source including flow valve means; a fluidic bistable amplifier having a power input port operatively connected to said flow valve means, a pair of power output ports in fluid communication with the power input port, and a pair of control ports for directing fluid from said power input port to said power output ports individually; passage means for connecting one output port to one of the control ports and the other output port to the other control port, and for directing a control signal from the output ports to the control ports; timing means in said passage means for delaying the control signal between one of said output ports and one of said control ports including a capacitor having a substantial fluid storage volume, a first restrictor in series with said capacitor and effective to discharge the fluid pressure within the capacitor for a predetermined delay time interval, and a second restrictor between said other output port and said other control port and having a restrictive value of 75 percent of said first restrictor and a servomotor responsive to the pressure of the other of said output ports and having a chamber with a volume of 10- 15 percent of said capacitor; electric circuit means including a power source, first switch means operatively connected with said servomotor, second switch means for connecting said power source with said first switch means, resistor means in parallel with said first switch means and connected with said second switch means for providing a current path when the first switch means is open, and light means operatively connected with said first switch means and said resistor means for providing illumination when said second switch means is closed; and actuating means for selectively closing said second switch means and opening said flow valve means simultaneously whereby said fluidic device will operate to open and close said first switch means at a rate determined by said timing means to provide one level of illumination when said first switch means is opened and another level of illumination when said first switch means is closed.
 3. In a flashing-light warning system, fluidic source means for providing fluid flow and pressure; fluidic oscillator means including bistable amplifier means operatively connected to said fluidic source means, fluid motor means operatively connected with said amplifier means for receiving fluid therefrom to produce an output force, and timing means for producing a pulse rate in the fluid flow between said amplifier means and said fluid motor means; electric circuit means including a power source, illumination means including lamp means for providing illumination and lamp switch means operatively connected with said fluid motor means and being actuated in response to said output force, and brake switch means for connecting said power source with said illumination means; and actuating means for selectively closing said brake switch means to complete the electric circuit between said power source and said illumination means whereby said fluidic oscillator means will operate to actuate said lamp switch means at the pulse rate determined by said timing means and said illumination means will provide one level of illumination when said lamp switch means is opened and another level of illumination when said lamp switch means is closed.
 4. In a flashing-light warning system, a fluidic source including flow valve means; fluidic oscillator means including bistable amplifier means operatively connected to said flow valve means, fluid motor means operatively connected with said amplifier means for receiving fluid therefrom to produce an output force, and timing means for producing a pulse rate in the fluid flow between said amplifier means and said fluid motor means; electric circuit means including a power source, first switch means operatively connected with said fluid motor means and being actuated in response to the output force, second switch means for connecting said power source with said first switch means, and light means having one filament operatively connected in series to both said switch means and another filament operatively connected in series with said second switch means only; and actuating means for selectively closing said second switch means and opening said flow valve means simultaneously whereby said fluidic oscillator means will operate to open and close said first switch means at a rate determined by said timing means to provide one level of illumination when said first switch means is opened and another level of illumination when said first switch means is closed.
 5. In a flashing-light warning system, a fluidic source including flow valve means; a fluidic device having a power input port connected to said flow valve means, a pair of power output ports in fluid communication with the power input port, and a pair of control port means for directing fluid from said power input port to said power output ports individually; passage means for connecting one output port to one of the control ports and the other output port to the other control port, and for directing a control signal from the output ports to the control ports; timing means in said passage means for delaying the control signal between one of said output ports and one of said control ports; electric circuit means including a power source, illumination means including lamp switch means operatively connected with one of said output ports and lamp means, and brake switch means for connecting said power source with said illumination means; and actuating means for selectively closing said brake switch means and opening said flow valve means simultaneously whereby said fluidic device will operate to open and close said lamp switch means at a rate determined by said timing means and said illumination means will provide one level of illumination when said lamp switch means is opened and another level of illumination when said lamp switch means is closed.
 6. In a flashing-light warning system, a fluidic source including flow valve means; fluidic oscillator means including bistable amplifier means operatively connected to said flow valve means, fluid motor means operatively connected with said amplifier means for receiving fluid therefrom to produce an output force, and timing means for producing a pulse rate in the fluid flow between said amplifier means and said fluid motor means; electric circuit means including a power source, first switch means operatively connected with said fluid motor means and being actuated in response to the output force, second switch means for connecting said power source with said first switch means, resistor means in parallel with said first switch means and connected with said second switch means for providing a current path when the first switch means is open, and light means operatively connected with said first switch means and said resistor means for providing illumination when said second switch means is closed; and actuating means for selectively closing said second switch means and opening said flow valve means simultaneously whereby said fluidic oscillator means will operate to actuate said first switch means at a rate determined by said timing means to provide one level of illumination when said first switch means is opened and another level of illumination when said first switch means is closed.
 7. In a flashing-light warning system, a fluidic source including flow valve means; a fluidic device having a power input port operatively connected to said flow valve means, a pair of power output ports in fluid communication with the power input port, and a pair of control ports for directing fluid from said power input port to said power output ports individually; passage means for connecting one output port to one of the control ports and the other output port to the other control port, and for directing a control signal from the output ports to the control ports; timing means in said passage means for delaying the control signal between one of said output ports and one of said control ports; electric circuit means including a power source, first switch means operatively connected with one of said output ports, second switch means for connecting said power source with said first switch means, resistor means in parallel with said first switch means and connected with said second switch means for providing a current path when the first switch means is open, and light means operatively connected with said first switch means and said resistor means for providing illumination when said second switch means is closed; and actuating means for selectively closing said second switch means and opening said flow valve means simultaneously whereby said fluidic device will operate to open and close said first switch means at a rate determined by said timing means to provide one level of illumination when said first switch means is opened and another level of illumination when said first switch means is closed. 